Today we’re going to be hearing from three different faculty members at Columbus State University who are in charge of the GOALS program. This is an inclusive post-secondary education or IPSE program that provides college education and experiences to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I’m going to split this episode into two parts because I had two different conversations that I believe should both be included. First up will be my conversation with Dr. Toni Franklin, the Co-Director, and Dr. Stephanie Marshall, the program manager of the GOALS program. After that we’ll have a quick intermission before we hear from Dr. Greg Blalock, the Director of the GOALS program. All of these individuals are doing great work and I really believe that Columbus State is at the forefront of inclusive education in Georgia. You can hear more about their students in our IPSE Spotlight video or read about them in our IPSE Spotlight article.
But before we really dive into this episode, I have some important news to share with you! It’s May 3, 2023 as I record this and as of last Thursday, April 27, a bill was passed which makes IPSE students eligible for state scholarships. This means that the HOPE scholarship which many traditional students rely on to attend college is now available for IPSE students as well. This was a huge focus for many advocates during this past legislative session, and it’s been made a reality through their work and the help of House Representative Houston Gaines who’s importance to the disability community cannot be overstated. This is a huge victory and I hope everyone takes a moment to pat themselves on the back.
During my conversations at Columbus State we talked about this bill and IPSE funding quite a bit. Obviously the bill hadn’t passed at the time of my visit and I considered cutting these parts of the conversations out, but I’ve decided to leave them in to highlight the importance of the bill and show just how much it means to these programs. Just keep that in mind when you hear about that topic.
That’s more than enough from me, let’s get on with the episode. I hope you enjoy and stick around until the end to hear a teaser for our next episode.
GCDD Making a Difference Magazine - Spring 2023
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
